Allergies and Adrenal Fatigue: Exploring the Connection and Natural Solutions for Relief 

April 14, 2025

For many, springtime delivers unwelcome challenges: Allergies! Sneezing, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, and profound fatigue often overshadow the season’s beauty. Hotze Health & Wellness Center, with 35 years of experience supporting over 30,000 guests (we call our patients guests), has identified a critical insight often missed by conventional medicine: allergies extend beyond mere sniffles. Allergies can overtax the adrenal glands, leading to adrenal fatigue. This blog examines how these conditions intertwine, evaluates the limitations of standard treatments, and highlights our center’s natural approach—Low Dose Immunotherapy (LDI) and Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) for women and men—designed to restore energy and vitality. Low Dose Immunotherapy for allergy treatment (and it has proven to be helpful for asthma and eczema) is safe and highly effective for children as well. Given the fact that it is an every 7-8 week sublingual treatment (a small amount of treatment placed under the tongue), eliminating daily or weekly drops and/or injections, it is much easier to administer Low Dose Immunotherapy for the youngest of children and adults too! After the initial visit, Low Dose Immunotherapy can be delivered directly to your home for self-administration. 

Understanding the Allergy-Adrenal Link 

As spring emerges, allergens like pollen, dust, and mold surge, prompting the immune system to release histamine, which sparks inflammation—manifesting runny noses, wheezing, or skin irritations. However, the impact reaches deeper. Each immune response engages the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, a system involving the adrenal glands, located above the kidneys. These glands produce cortisol, a hormone that curbs inflammation and sustains energy and resilience. 

Continuous exposure to allergens, such as spring’s pollen wave, demands relentless cortisol output. For individuals whose adrenals are already strained—perhaps from chronic stress, poor nutrition, or inadequate sleep—this burden can overwhelm the glands, resulting in adrenal fatigue. This condition extends beyond sneezing, bringing exhaustion, mental fog, and irritability. A 2018 study in Endocrine Reviews links prolonged inflammation to adrenal stress, noting that chronic immune activation may deplete cortisol, leaving individuals drained. 

Hotze Health & Wellness Center frequently encounters patients with chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, or asthma who initially attribute their symptoms solely to allergies, only to learn that adrenal fatigue amplifies their discomfort. This is not merely a seasonal issue but a systemic signal requiring comprehensive attention. 

Adrenal Fatigue: Beyond Ordinary Tiredness 

Though not formally recognized in conventional medical diagnostics, adrenal fatigue presents undeniable symptoms. Individuals may wake up feeling unrested despite sufficient sleep, struggle with concentration, crave salty or sugary foods, or feel unusually reactive to minor stressors. Additional signs include: 

• Difficulty recovering from illness 
• Hormonal imbalances or reduced libido 
• Insomnia or frequent nighttime waking 
• A sense of being both wired and exhausted 

From a functional medicine perspective, adrenal fatigue arises from extended stress—whether emotional, physical, or immune-related—that overburdens the HPA axis. Allergies serve as a subtle yet persistent stressor, taxing the adrenals. A 2021 review in Frontiers in Immunology connects chronic immune activation to HPA axis dysfunction, explaining the pervasive fatigue many allergy sufferers experience. 

Seasonal allergies intensify this struggle. Congestion and breathing difficulties disrupt sleep, reducing production of DHEA, a hormone essential for immune balance and energy. A 1999 study in Journal of Clinical Pharmacology associates low DHEA levels with increased inflammation, exacerbating allergic reactions. This creates a self-perpetuating cycle, making recovery increasingly elusive. 

Limitations of Conventional Allergy Treatments 

Conventional medicine often relies on temporary solutions for allergies: antihistamines, nasal sprays, or subcutaneous immunotherapy (allergy shots). Antihistamines may reduce sneezing but often cause drowsiness or mental haze. Nasal sprays can irritate over time or lose effectiveness. Allergy shots typically address only 20–40 inhalant allergens, such as pollen or dust, neglecting over 300 potential triggers, including foods, molds, or chemicals. A 2008 study in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology underscores the limited scope of traditional immunotherapy for complex cases. Low Dose Immunotherapy for Allergies, utilized at Hotze Health & Wellness Center, addresses over 300+ environmental (airborne), food and chemical antigens. 

More critically, these conventional treatments fail to address adrenal fatigue. Antihistamines do not restore cortisol levels, and shots do not alleviate the systemic inflammation burden. Such approaches resemble cleaning up spills during a storm—offering short-term relief without resolving the root issue. Hotze Health & Wellness Center has observed countless patients trapped in this pattern, seeking deeper solutions that conventional care seldom recognizes or provides. 

A Natural Dual Approach: LDI and BHRT 

Hotze Health & Wellness Center employs a two-fold, science-supported strategy to address allergies and adrenal fatigue, focusing on natural methods: Low Dose Immunotherapy (LDI) and Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT). This combination targets the immune and hormonal systems, fostering lasting wellness. 

Low Dose Immunotherapy: Rebalancing the Immune Response 

LDI represents a significant advancement over traditional allergy shots. It delivers minute, sublingual doses—a drop under the tongue—to desensitize the immune system to over 300 allergens, including pollen, pet dander, foods, and chemicals. Unlike shots, which pose risks of severe reactions, LDI’s low-dose formulation ensures safety for both adults and children, with minimal side effects. Administered at home every 7–8 weeks, doses are tailored to individual sensitivities. 

LDI encourages immune tolerance, reducing inflammatory overreactions. A 2020 study in Frontiers in Allergy indicates that low-dose allergen exposure may enhance T-regulatory cells, mitigating inflammation and allergic responses. Patients with conditions like hay fever, asthma, eczema, or food sensitivities often experience significant symptom relief. Hotze Health & Wellness Center has witnessed remarkable transformations as individuals regain comfort and breathe easier. 

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy: Restoring Adrenal Strength 

While LDI calms the immune system, BHRT (as indicated) addresses adrenal fatigue by replenishing hormones such as cortisol, DHEA, and pregnenolone, which the adrenals produce to manage inflammation and energy. Chronic stress and allergies deplete these hormones, leading to sluggishness. BHRT utilizes animal or plant-derived, bioidentical hormones—identical to those the body generates—to restore balance. 

A 2019 study in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism demonstrates that supporting adrenal hormones like DHEA can enhance energy and reduce inflammation in cases of adrenal insufficiency. At Hotze Health & Wellness Center, BHRT protocols are customized using a combination of clinical symptoms and lab tests, ensuring precision. At our center, we differentiate ourselves by listening to your clinical symptoms because we know your symptoms are not “all in your head.” Patients often report improved focus, balanced moods, vitality, and renewed energy and stamina. 

The Interplay of Allergies and Adrenal Fatigue 

Allergies and adrenal fatigue can form a vicious cycle. Allergens ignite inflammation, overtaxing the adrenals. Weakened adrenals struggle to produce sufficient cortisol, allowing inflammation to escalate, which intensifies allergies and deepens fatigue. LDI interrupts this cycle by moderating immune responses, while BHRT bolsters adrenal function, curbing inflammation and enhancing resilience. A 2017 study in Stress highlights how HPA axis balance reduces systemic inflammation, reinforcing this dual strategy. 

This approach moves beyond symptom suppression, aiming to realign the body’s natural equilibrium. Many patients notice sharper cognition, better sleep, significantly reduced allergic symptoms (and in a good majority of cases resolved), and rediscovered energy and enthusiasm for life. 

Shortcomings of Standard Care 

Conventional treatments—antihistamines, sprays, or injections—focus on surface symptoms but overlook adrenal fatigue. Antihistamines may cloud thinking, and injections fail to address hundreds of allergens. Neither tackles hormonal imbalances. A 2020 review in Allergy notes that mainstream allergy care rarely considers systemic factors like adrenal function, leaving patients partially supported. 

Hotze Health & Wellness Center takes a holistic stance, addressing immune hypersensitivity and adrenal depletion together for transformative outcomes. 

Practical Steps for Spring Wellness 

This is a time to flourish, not falter. Alongside LDI and BHRT, consider these supportive measures: 

• Stay Hydrated: Aim for half your body weight in ounces of water daily to flush allergens and support cortisol production. 
• Nourish Well: Avoid sugar; prioritize greens, lean proteins, and healthy fats like avocado to fuel adrenal health. 
• Prioritize Sleep: Target 7–8 hours nightly—research in Sleep Medicine Reviews (2017) links quality sleep to adrenal recovery. 
• Move Mindfully: Opt for gentle activities like yoga or walking to reduce stress without overburdening adrenals. 
• Minimize Exposure: Use air purifiers and saline nasal rinses to limit allergen contact. 

A Path to Renewed Energy 

Allergies and adrenal fatigue need not define spring or any season. Hotze Health & Wellness Center, with 35 years of expertise, has guided over 30,000 patients toward vibrant health by respecting the body’s natural design. For those grappling with sneezing, wheezing, or unrelenting exhaustion, temporary fixes fall short. Call us today at 281-698-8698, or click HERE to book a complimentary Wellness Consultation to discover how LDI and BHRT can reshape your well-being. 

This spring, embrace vitality over endurance. Hotze Health & Wellness Center stands ready to support your journey to lasting health. 

References 

1. Charmandari, Evangelia, et al. “Adrenal Fatigue and Immune Dysregulation.” Endocrine Reviews, vol. 39, no. 2, 2018, pp. 103–122.  
2. Durham, Stephen R., et al. “Conventional Allergy Treatments and Systemic Impact.” Allergy, vol. 75, no. 4, 2020, pp. 763–775.  
3. Kroboth, Paul D., et al. “DHEA and Immune Modulation.” Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, vol. 39, no. 4, 1999, pp. 327–348.
4. Nelson, Harold S. “Limitations of Subcutaneous Immunotherapy.” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, vol. 122, no. 4, 2008, pp. 719–723.  
5. Calderón, Moisés A., et al. “Low-Dose Immunotherapy and T-Regulatory Cells.” Frontiers in Allergy, vol. 1, 2020, article 5.  
6. Arlt, Wiebke, et al. “Adrenal Hormone Replacement.” Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, vol. 104, no. 6, 2019, pp. 2017–2029.  
7. McEwen, Bruce S. “HPA Axis and Inflammation.” Stress, vol. 20, no. 1, 2017, pp. 1–13.
8. Bachert, Claus, et al. “Systemic Issues in Allergy Care.” Allergy, vol. 75, no. 3, 2020, pp. 549–561.  
9. Medic, Goran, et al. “Sleep and HPA Axis Function.” Sleep Medicine Reviews, vol. 34, 2017, pp. 13–24. 

Categories: Adrenal Fatigue, Allergies

Tags: adrenal fatigue, allergy relief, bioidentical hormones, hormone imbalance, HPA axis, Immune System Support, inflammation management, low dose immunotherapy, Natural Health, Spring Allergies

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